Settlers vandalize, set fire to West Bank mosque

Rabbis for Human Rights call upon rabbis in the settlements to lead those in condemning the price tag attacks in general and vandalizing of mosques specifically.

Settlers vandalized a mosque in the West Bank village of Qusra, writing graffiti and setting it on fire sometime between 1 and 3 am on September 5, 2011. The arson did not damage the prayer room. It is feared that this is a “price tag” attack in response to the impending demolition of houses at the Migron outpost that took place later in the morning of the same day.

Despite some improvements in the West Bank in the last half year, the area of Qusra especially has suffered from destruction and violence in the last few months. Since the beginning of the price tag attacks, Rabbis for Human Rights has warned the security forces and the policy makers behind them, that according to the High Court ruling of Marar, the necessary steps must be taken in advance whenever there are actions to be taken against the outposts – in order to prevent injury to people and to trees in areas close to the outposts and in other areas in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Lately, there have been fears of arson in the entire area. Rabbis for Human Rights call upon rabbis in the settlements to lead those in condemning the price tag attacks in general and vandalizing of mosques specifically. The Rabbis for Human Rights responded to the setting fire to the mosque in the village of Qusra: The inconceivable ease of setting fire to prayer places in area under Israel rule, especially when it is expected and done after an evacuation of an illegal outpost, should raise many questions regarding the determination of the law enforcement system. We have difficulty seeing people arrested in previous cases of arson of mosques or intensive intelligence activity in order to prevent this. Is the law enforcement system in the Occupied Territories enabling, through its powerlessness, fanatics to rule us and drown us in hatred and blood?

[...] (including some in Israel proper) suggest that Goldstein’s horrific acts are not simply heinous history. Real threats exist to the well-being of non-Jews living near extremist settlers… Purim may [...]